Motorola Moto G Play (2023) vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the Moto G Play (2023) is a budget-friendly option, the A54’s superior performance, camera, display, and charging speed make it a significantly better overall value, despite the higher price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G Play (2023) | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 08 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 12 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 76.5 x 9.4 mm (6.58 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.20 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~79.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37 (12 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Deep Indigo | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | XT2271-1, XT2271-3, XT2271-5, XT2271-4 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | $ 54.00 / C$ 129.00 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G Play (2023)
- Very affordable
- Long battery life
- Simple and easy to use
- Slow performance
- Basic display
- Limited camera capabilities
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent performance
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Great camera system
- Fast charging
- Water and dust resistance (IP67)
- Higher price than Moto G Play
- Exynos chipset can be slightly less efficient than Snapdragon in some scenarios
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54’s display is a standout feature. Its 980 nits peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio provide a vibrant and easily viewable screen, even in direct sunlight. The Moto G Play (2023) likely has a more basic LCD panel with lower brightness and contrast, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience. The A54's Super AMOLED technology offers richer colors and deeper blacks.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54’s camera system is considerably more advanced. While specific megapixels aren't listed for the G Play, the A54’s hardware and image processing capabilities will produce superior photos and videos in various lighting conditions. Expect better detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance from the A54.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a significant upgrade over the Helio G37 in the Moto G Play (2023). The A54’s 5nm process and Cortex-A78 cores deliver noticeably faster performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps. The G Play (2023) will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with more intensive workloads.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive battery life, with the Galaxy A54 demonstrating exceptional endurance ratings (119h). The Moto G Play (2023) also offers good battery life, but the A54’s larger battery capacity and efficient chipset likely give it an edge in real-world usage. The A54 also supports faster 25W charging compared to the G Play's 10W.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Motorola Moto G Play (2023)? Users on a very tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and long battery life. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Anyone seeking a well-rounded smartphone experience with a great camera, vibrant display, and reliable performance without breaking the bank.